Politics

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 14:02 UTC

  The US dollar to remain as world’s reserve currency says IMF chief

  

  The US dollar is likely to remain as the world’s reserve currency said on Wednesday International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn interviewed by France 24 television.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 06:19 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil agree to continue disagreeing (less intensely) in trade issues

  

  Brazil and Argentina reached “relatively productive” results following the Sao Paulo meeting of the bilateral trade monitoring committee to address the ongoing restrictions imposed by Argentina to Brazilian exports, according to diplomatic sources from both sides.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 06:05 UTC

  IMF announces more loans and zero interest for the world’s poorest countries

  

  The IMF has announced a new framework for loans to the world’s poorest nations, including increased resources, a doubling of borrowing limits, zero interest rates until the end of 2011, and more flexible terms.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 03:43 UTC

  Argentina ignores Mercosur; rallies domestic support for protectionist policies

  

  Argentina’s main trade unions confederation, CGT, and the chamber of small and medium enterprises, CAEM, energetically supported trade protection measures imposed by the government and which triggered complaints and irritation among Mercosur country members.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 03:39 UTC

  Chile requests additional time to clear mines along Bolivian border

  

  The Chilean government has requested neighbouring Bolivia to extend for a further two years (2012 to 2014) the timetable to clear of anti personnel mines planted in the seventies along border areas, reports La Razon, La Paz main daily.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 03:36 UTC

  In open letter to Clinton maquilas call for democracy restoration in Honduras

  

  Clothing companies Nike Inc., Gap Inc., Adidas and Knights Apparel have released a joint letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for the restoration of democracy in Honduras. The three companies with maquilas in Honduras wrote an open letter to Clinton, expressing their concerns about recent events in Central America.

• Thursday, July 30th 2009 - 01:57 UTC

  Israel fortifies presence in Latin America

  

  The following article posted in The Miami Herald, written by Andres Oppenheimer gives a good reference framework of the current Teheran regime political and diplomatic penetration in Latinamerica and Israel’s latest effort to counter such an advance.

• Wednesday, July 29th 2009 - 12:39 UTC

  Argentine farmers on the verge of “an even greater conflict” warn leaders

  

  Argentine farmers have again warned that if “urgent solutions” are not forthcoming” it’s almost certain “we’ll be facing an even greater conflict”.

• Wednesday, July 29th 2009 - 12:24 UTC

  US/China agree to fight protectionism, but doubts linger on US dollar

  

  United States and China are committed to fighting protectionism, said US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner following two days of high-level talks. The two countries share an interest in ensuring that trade remained “open and rules-based”.

• Wednesday, July 29th 2009 - 12:22 UTC

  British Tories 18 points ahead of Labour, show latest poll

  

  British Conservatives have stretched their lead over Labour to 18 points, according to a new opinion poll. The ComRes survey put David Cameron's party on 42%, up six points on last month's poll, with Labour down one point on 24%.